The K9

[notsofast]

This is the new workhorse.

2020 1.5 BlueHDi 100PS MWB Enterprise. Cumulus Grey. Rhino roof rack with rear roller.

In need of a bit of a wash (so much muck on country lanes).

[theraginganarchist]

That's lovely! Really like the shape of the newer vans.

Be interested to hear how you find the first couple of weeks of ownership, hopefully there will a lot of things that have improved, but also let us know if the designers left anything useful out in the upgrade process.

[notsofast]

I've had it 8 months already. I agree it's an attractive design - I think it's the most striking of all the vehicles (Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall and Toyota) using this platform. The headlights are different on the vans compared to the MPVs - I prefer the van version, though that might be a case of loving the one you're with....

My previous van was an M49 (still got that one actually), so the difference is substantial.  The K9 is faster, more economical, larger, has a bigger payload and of course has all the tech features (I still haven't got to grips with all of them...). It also feels more robustly made - the doors shut with a really solid thunk.  The 3 seats are also an improvement over the 2 in the M49. And it's bound to be safer on the road. Oh, and the side cargo door is really useful.

Things I'm less happy with?  I hated the electronic parking brake at first, but have got used to it (though I'd prefer a handbrake - more control, less to go wrong).  There's a lack of a torque at low revs, especially going up hills, so I often have to change down gear, whereas the M49 would just keep chugging away.

Minor quibbles are that the throttle pedal is too close to the wheel arch (so my foot sometimes presses the arch instead of pushing the pedal further to the floor),  the touchscreen isn't always easy to navigate when driving along, and the middle seat is shaped in such a way that objects (especially phones) are inclined to slip off it down into the crack between the middle seat and driver's seat, and then they're quite hard to retrieve.

[sparx]

 the middle seat is shaped in such a way that objects (especially phones) are inclined to slip off it down into the crack between the middle seat and driver's seat, and then they're quite hard to retrieve.

That sounds just like the 3 seater B9! The better half has lost her glasses down that seat gap a few times already 

[Sol]

It eats stuff off my B9 seat too, its a pest.

One of these may be the answer:

https://gbr.grandado.com/products/1-2pcs...LQQAvD_BwE

[theraginganarchist]

I've had it 8 months already. I agree it's an attractive design - I think it's the most striking of all the vehicles (Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall and Toyota) using this platform. The headlights are different on the vans compared to the MPVs - I prefer the van version, though that might be a case of loving the one you're with....

My previous van was an M49 (still got that one actually), so the difference is substantial.  The K9 is faster, more economical, larger, has a bigger payload and of course has all the tech features (I still haven't got to grips with all of them...). It also feels more robustly made - the doors shut with a really solid thunk.  The 3 seats are also an improvement over the 2 in the M49. And it's bound to be safer on the road. Oh, and the side cargo door is really useful.

Things I'm less happy with?  I hated the electronic parking brake at first, but have got used to it (though I'd prefer a handbrake - more control, less to go wrong).  There's a lack of a torque at low revs, especially going up hills, so I often have to change down gear, whereas the M49 would just keep chugging away.

Minor quibbles are that the throttle pedal is too close to the wheel arch (so my foot sometimes presses the arch instead of pushing the pedal further to the floor),  the touchscreen isn't always easy to navigate when driving along, and the middle seat is shaped in such a way that objects (especially phones) are inclined to slip off it down into the crack between the middle seat and driver's seat, and then they're quite hard to retrieve.

Thanks for the mini review, always good to hear the views of someone who has lived with a vehicle for a while over a motoring journalist who has just got in one. It was interesting to hear a comparison between an older one too, shame they seem to have compromised the torque for efficiency, one of the things I love about diesels is being lazy with downshifts, I imagine it's something you quickly get used to though.

I'm with you on the the styling, the new vans definitely look far better than the MPV. If I buy a MPV again next time my preference would be  Peugeot Rifter, really don't like what Citroen have done with the design of the new shape MPVs, strangely enough the pug MPV looks closer to the new shape Citroen vans. Guess they are attempting to appeal to different markets and tastes.

Glad to hear you are enjoying it though and hope it brings you many miles/years of useful service.

[notsofast]

Thanks for the mini review, always good to hear the views of someone who has lived with a vehicle for a while over a motoring journalist who has just got in one. It was interesting to hear a comparison between an older one too, shame they seem to have compromised the torque for efficiency, one of the things I love about diesels is being lazy with downshifts, I imagine it's something you quickly get used to though.

I'm with you on the the styling, the new vans definitely look far better than the MPV. If I buy a MPV again next time my preference would be  Peugeot Rifter, really don't like what Citroen have done with the design of the new shape MPVs, strangely enough the pug MPV looks closer to the new shape Citroen vans. Guess they are attempting to appeal to different markets and tastes.

Glad to hear you are enjoying it though and hope it brings you many miles/years of useful service.

Thanks, yes I am enjoying it, and I wouldn't want to overplay the torque question - I think a lot of drivers wouldn't really notice it, but I work in a hilly area and normally am quite unhurried in my driving.   If I drive more briskly with more revs, it's mostly not an issue (and it's noticeably faster than the M49).

[notsofast]

It eats stuff off my B9 seat too, its a pest.

One of these may be the answer:

https://gbr.grandado.com/products/1-2pcs...LQQAvD_BwE

Yes, something like that - I might even make my own (though it won't be made out of carbon fibre, lol).

[Sol]

Erm. No lol but it gives you an idea..I've seen cloth ones too online and laughed to start with but actually done well, they'd be handy. Is the wife good with a sewing machine?

(Ducks shoe thrown my way for typical man-comment)

[notsofast]

Erm. No lol but it gives you an idea..I've seen cloth ones too online and laughed to start with but actually done well, they'd be handy. Is the wife good  with a sowing machine?

(Ducks shoe thrown my way for typical man-comment)

Yes I laughed at first, but the disappearing phone trick is annoying, so the laughter turns to curiosity.

There's no wife chez notso, so I would have to do it myself (the tailoring trade is in my family tree - I've even been thinking of making my own seat covers, as there are some tutorials online and I don't like the off-the-shelf covers).